Electric cars are gaining popularity as the autonomy they offer grows and as there are more options available from different ranges on the market. For the most part, the prices of electrified models are still higher than conventional combustion cars, which is why many drivers opt for offers on the booming second-hand market for the first type of vehicle.
That is what the owner of a brand new Tesla Model X that spent several days submerged in water thought. This happened after rushing from a pier on the Danube River, in Budapest (Hungary). For now, the causes for which the car ended up falling into the water are unknown.
It was the owner himself who contacted the rescue teams for help. It was not an easy task, since it took them four days to locate the vehicle and bring it to the surface.
After the outcome, curiously, the owner did not take 24 hours to find a buyer interested in purchasing his vehicle, despite the fact that the batteries (among many other components) could have been damaged after spending so long under water. The transaction price amounted to 22,000 euros.
Electric vehicles have the advantage over combustion vehicles that, when running without air, they can make certain wadings without the lack of said air “drowning” the engine. But that does not mean that water does not affect this type of car.
Electricity and water are not a good combination, especially since the latter can damage some metal parts and affect the electrical system. Lithium-ion batteries are sealed, but this does not mean that they can withstand high pressure when submerged.
The deeper you go, the more the pressure rises, so water can eventually get into the battery pack and cause a short circuit or even a fire. This is a type of incident that has occurred several times in areas affected by major flooding, such as during the hurricane season in the United States.
However, some drivers seem not to care too much about buying electric vehicles that have been submerged, despite knowing that the battery packs can be deteriorated and that, even if they continue to work, they can run down sooner or cause problems later.
All this was not an obstacle for the buyer of the Tesla Model X that sank in the Danube River and for which he paid a significant sum of money. Obviously, a model like this in perfect condition would be much more expensive (starting at 113,990 euros in our market), but the risk of driving a previously flooded electric car would be eliminated. Said buyer has not ruled on the reasons that led him to make the acquisition.
